Paulding Detectives along with Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force Agents arrest multiple individuals which shut down a stolen gun and drug trafficking ring in Paulding County.  Detectives and Agents were able to recover nearly 70 stolen guns and multiple large quantities of illegal narcotics.   

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022 Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force Agents and Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Deputies executed search warrants in two different Paulding County locations: 32 White Pines Court, Dallas, Georgia and 454 Emerald Pines Drive Dallas, Georgia.  On January 28, 2022 an additional search warrant was executed at 124 Essex Lane Hiram, Georgia.  On January 31, 2022 a fourth search warrant was executed at 150 King Arnold Drive Dallas, Georgia. 

The search warrants were executed following lengthy investigations by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force.  Paulding County CID was investigating the report of approximately 100 guns which were stolen in Paulding County. 

The Drug Task Force began receiving information about several locations being used for trafficking illegal drugs and where large amounts of guns were being stored.  The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Task Force joined their investigative efforts in an attempt to recover the stolen guns and shut down the drug trafficking ring. 

As a result of their investigation, Agents and Detectives were able to obtain search warrants for all of the aforementioned locations.  Taking part in the operation were the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office CID, Warrants Division, Crime Suppression Unit, and Crime Scene Unit, along with Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force Agents.  During the investigation and execution of the search warrants, Agents and Detectives seized several quantities of Methamphetamine, Heroin, Ecstasy, Cocaine, prescription pills, Marijuana, and $3636.00 in U.S. Currency, as well as recovering numerous stolen firearms. 

Detectives and Agents continued to follow leads that also led to Carroll and Douglas Counties where additional stolen firearms were also recovered.  The illegal drugs seized during these investigations have a street value of over $12,000.00.  As of the date of this press release, the diligent efforts of Detectives and Agents involved have resulted in the recovery of 68 of the stolen firearms.  

Individuals arrested throughout the course of this joint investigation and their charges are listed below:

–        Nathan Tyler Jacobs (W/M, 26 YOA) of Dallas, GA.  (Trafficking in Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II Dextroamphetamine, Schedule IV Alprazolam, Ecstasy, and Marijuana. Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Sawed-off Shotgun, and Theft by Receiving)

–        Jessica Nichole Simpson (W/F, 35 YOA) of Dallas, GA.  (Theft by Receiving, Possession of Sawed-off Shotgun)

–        Alysia Ashley Busher (W/F, 31 YOA) of Dallas, GA. (Theft by Receiving, Possession of Sawed-off Shotgun)

–        Celia Cheyenne Alexander (W/F, 26 YOA) of Chattanooga, TN.  (Theft by Receiving, Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun)

–        Meghan Renee Dover (W/F, 29 YOA) of Dallas, GA.  (Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon)

–        Toni B. Bertolo (W/F, 57 YOA) of Dallas, GA.  (Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Heroin)

–        Jamie Nicole Ayers (W/F, 44 YOA) of Douglasville, GA. (Driving Without a License)

–        Brittney Paige Bickers (W/F, 33 YOA) of Dallas, GA. (Arrest Warrant, Bartow County)

–        Jeremy Steven Fricke (W/M, 33 YOA) of Dallas, GA. (Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine)

–        Kelley Ann Long (W/F, 26 YOA) of Dallas, GA. (Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine)

–        Chester Wayne Blond (W/M, 39 YOA) of Douglasville, GA. (Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Failure to Appear Warrant, Crossing the Guard Line of the Jail With Contraband, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine)

–        Zebulon Norman David Hogeland (W/M, 32 YOA) of Hiram, GA (Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Failure to Appear Warrant (Paulding County), Possession of Methamphetamine) 

All of those arrested were transported to the Paulding County Jail without incident.  This case is a great example of law enforcement utilizing information about criminal activity received from the public, agencies having an open avenue of information exchange, and Detectives / Agents joining forces to aggressively conduct investigative activities in an effort to keep these stolen guns and drugs out of the hands of criminals.  This investigation continues. 

The Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force is located in Dallas, Georgia and services Haralson and Paulding Counties. The Drug Task Force is comprised of members from the Haralson County S.O., Paulding County S.O., Dallas P.D., Tallapoosa P.D., and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  If you have any information related to drug dealing in Haralson or Paulding Counties, please call the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force at 770-646-9175.  You can also send an anonymous message to the Paulding Sheriff mobile app or call the CID Tip line at (770) 443-3047 as well.  These reports can be made anonymously if you wish.